Wichita eagle., 1887-06-09
RAMBLEs ABOUT EUROPE.
From England to Europe Especially for
the Eagle.
NO. II.


tom house at Queenstown. We purchased
railway tickets for Cork, distant some
twelve or fifteen miles, and before the sun
had had time to dispel the ocean mist, we
were steaming away through landscape
that was nothing but succession OF hne
realistic picturet, of panoramic splender,
until the train ran into the tunnel at Cork, |
and then backed into the quaint depot OF
that quaint old city. suppose by the
time have finished this tour, much a the
freshness incident to an inexperienced
traveller, will have worn off. l question II
ever. 1 shall so thoroughly assimilate one
days sight seeing with the same amount OF
zest and appropriateness as l did
this my first day in Ireland. With my
ewes shut it was hard to realize that the
broad Atlantic lay between me and my
native land; with eyes and ears open, the
evidence that l was in the land where the
shamrock and shillalah flourish, was so
convin cling as to need no assurance of its
reality. can remember as far back as the
time when there were no electric lights nor
electric bells in our first class hotels; when
there were no street cars in our large cities.
I can 90 that one better. l can even re-
member the days when the 'tallew dip
gave light to the world, long antedatlng
the discovery and utility of kerosene.
confess then l was struck call of heap
when found my chamber dimly illumi-
mated by two common candles; not so dlmly'
however. but that / could read notice on
the wall cautioning guests against
the ''nefarious and dangerous
habit of reading in bed.
Of course Mrs. S. couldn't endure the
candles, and in searching for the electric
button to summons the bell boy, she came
in contact with a cord thick enough and
strong enough to hold three year Old colt.
Demonstrating to her the utter futility Of
continuing her search for the button, and
the wisdom of jerking the cord. A smart
Bridget appeared who made it perfectly
plain in the course fof time that such an
article as kerosene lamp was curiosity
in Cork. After they have come and pre-
pared the way, possibly electric lights may
follow. This was in the ''swell' hotel Of
the city, but as l am not prepared to write
up the hotels until have made the grand
rounds, l will proceed to matters outside.
1t did seem odd that in city comprising
| n 81 oh no fOy r
the close of the 10Th century, no street cars.
The nearest substitute (only in cheapness and
convenience is the Irish jaunting car, a
one horse, two wheeled vehicle without
cover, the seats on each side capable of
holding four persons besides the dryer.
The latter sits On an elevated seat fronting
the horse. The passengers with their backs
to each other Over smooth roads, such as
you find in Ireland, and for a short dis
lance, they are at least endurable. There
are in use also quite a number of two
wheeled cabs 81 In the older portion of the
city the streets are narrow and crook ed
mere alleys you might say, and here you
find in dilapidated dwellings, squalor and
want. to all appearance no better than the
Chinese quarters in San Francisco, and so
far as poverty in all its abjectness is con-
cerned, few degrees worse than has ever
come under my observation.
Americans, from their well known
liberality are subject more than
any other visitors to the opportunities of
professional beggars. They seem to be in
wait for you, and, whether walking or
riding, street gamins, big, barefooted girls
with unkempt hair and garments of tatters,
decrepit old men and women, the lame,
blind and halt, are ever with you It's
true It's pity, and pity It's It's true.
The principle modern streets are wide
and well paved. St. Patrick's and the
Grand Parade were full of life and hustle,
(the latter, of course, only applies to wo-
mem as threaded my way through them
on Saturday evening. There were more
people on the side walk than one would
see in New York. The British soldier
formed large and striking element
amongst the pedestrians. The handsome,
neat fitting scarlet coats Of the infantry,
the dark blue trimmed with yellow of the
cavalry and the white waists, green plaid
kits, bare knees and white leggings of the
Highlanders, lent all the hue and
variety to the picture that the artists eye
could desire There are no less than
three regiments of troops stationed here
and the Irish have no love for them you
may be assured. There are number of
fine buildings in various parts of the city,
principally churches and one cathedral.
Father Mathew, of whom there is a fine
statue in ST. Patrick street, founded Shan
din church, which stands with its curious
tower on quite an elevation overlooking
much of the city. Its chime of bells,
''Shandin Bells" is known all over the
world
with deep affection
And recollection
| often think on
| Those Shandin bells,
Whose sounds so wild would
In the days Of childhood,
Fling round my cradle
Their magic spells